EU Parliament Meta online gambling: written question on sanctions and advertising on digital platforms
The European Parliament has brought the relationship between Meta, online gambling advertising and the application of the Digital Services Act into the spotlight. With a written question addressed to the Commission, MEPs Yvan Verougstraete and Sandro Gozi, from the Renew Europe group, ask how Europe intends to tackle the growing presence of unlicensed gambling operators who use major digital platforms to promote their services to users across the Union. Their concern is clear: determining whether these practices breach the DSA and what sanctions may apply even to the world’s largest tech giants.
The MEPs’ warning: illicit operators and unfair competition
According to the written question, many online betting sites operate within the European Union without any form of national licence, avoiding tax obligations in the countries where their services are accessed and ignoring all requirements related to player protection, particularly for minors. This situation distorts the market: licensed operators must comply with strict rules on transparency, fairness and harm prevention. In contrast, others exploit regulatory gaps to reach millions of users.
The most critical aspect concerns how these unlicensed operators promote their services. The MEPs report that targeted adverts on social media allow these companies to reach vulnerable audiences, raising the possibility of breaches of the Digital Services Act. Meta is identified as a central platform for the dissemination of such content, despite the obligations on content moderation and risk assessment introduced under the new European regulatory framework.
The MEPs formally ask the Commission whether these practices constitute a breach of the DSA, what measures it intends to take to stop the promotion of illegal gambling sites, and how the sanctions set out in the regulation will be enforced, particularly against very large online platforms.
The regulatory framework: how the DSA reshapes digital advertising in Europe
The Digital Services Act, fully applicable from 2024 to the leading digital platforms operating in the EU market, imposes a significantly higher level of responsibility on all online intermediaries. The regulation sets general duties for digital service providers and enhanced obligations for Very Large Online Platforms. This category includes Meta’s services.
Under the DSA, these platforms must carry out regular assessments of risks linked to the spread of illegal content, impacts on fundamental rights and the protection of minors. The regulation also prohibits targeted advertising to minors based on their personal data and restricts the use of sensitive categories of data for advertising purposes.
As for sanctions, the Commission may impose fines of up to 6% of a platform’s global annual turnover in cases of serious non-compliance, alongside corrective measures where violations persist.
Meta under pressure: from new ad policies to European investigations
Meta has long been a focus of scrutiny among European regulators. In 2025, the Commission launched several investigations into major digital platforms, including Meta’s services, for alleged DSA breaches linked to the handling of illegal content, reporting systems and advertising transparency.
At the same time, Meta has updated its advertising policies for the gambling sector, requiring advertisers to prove they hold a valid licence to run campaigns in specific jurisdictions. The updated guidelines reaffirm the ban on directing gambling adverts to minors and introduce more rigorous checks on advertisers using the platform for betting-related campaigns.
Despite these measures, several European authorities recently reported the continued presence of illegal gambling ads. In various EU countries, thousands of sponsored posts linked to unlicensed operators were detected and subsequently removed, revealing the operational difficulties of stopping campaigns that quickly reappear under new formats or accounts.
Vulnerable users and minors: the most sensitive issue for regulators
The concerns raised in the written question go beyond unfair competition, touching upon the protection of the most vulnerable categories. Academic studies and sector research show that exposure to gambling-related content – even in indirect forms – can increase the likelihood of developing problematic gambling behaviours, especially among adolescents.
Investigative reports in several European nations have also revealed that data collected by betting platforms can be shared with social networks through tracking tools. This enables detailed profiling of users and increases the volume of gambling advertisements they see in the following hours. In the absence of strict oversight, such mechanisms risk undermining the mental wellbeing of individuals already vulnerable to gambling-related harms.
The DSA addresses these risks by obliging platforms to assess the potential impact of their advertising practices on users’ wellbeing and on minors, imposing preventive and corrective measures that must be demonstrable and transparent.
Implications for licensed online gambling operators
For compliant operators, the debate initiated by the European Parliament represents an opportunity to restore balance in the competitive landscape. Licensed companies must invest heavily in compliance, responsible gambling tools and internal monitoring systems. At the same time, unlicensed operators can gain visibility on social media without adhering to any European-level standards.
If the Commission concludes that the promotion of prohibited sites falls within the scope of DSA violations, digital platforms could be required to implement stricter filters, automatic licence verification and enhanced cooperation with national gambling regulators. Such changes would foster fairer competition and reduce the market impact of illicit operators.
What comes next after the EU Parliament’s written question?
In the short term, the Commission must formally respond to the questions raised by the MEPs, clarifying its interpretation of the DSA with regard to online gambling advertising. The response may outline practical guidance for platforms and signal new commitments in enforcement.
In the medium term, this institutional exchange may accelerate the development of more detailed European guidelines on gambling advertising, complementing the initiatives introduced in 2025 to strengthen child protection in digital environments.
Furthermore, ongoing investigations into large platforms show that the Commission is prepared to use its full sanctioning powers when it believes DSA obligations are unmet, signalling a shift towards more assertive enforcement.
This article was first published in Italian on 21 November 2025.
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